JUSTICE MINISTER CRITICIZES SENATE FOR DELAYING 'TOUGH ON CRIME' BILLS

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says he is frustrated that the
Senate is holding up several "tough on crime" bills, including one
that would eliminate double credit for time served before someone is convicted.

Nicholson said in an interview Friday that Canadians are demanding
action - particularly to combat out-of-control gang crime.

"I have nine bills before parliament right now and want to get them
passed and I am not going to go quietly and have them die on the
order paper because these are things that have been asked for," Nicholson said.

"All of these are steps in the right direction and they send the
right message to Canadians that we will stand up for victims and
law-abiding Canadians."

The elimination of two-for-one credit and minimum sentences for drug
traffickers are just two of the components awaiting approval from the
Liberal-dominated senate.

They have received wide support from provincial attorney-generals
across Canada including in B.C., Nicholson said.

"These are good pieces of legislation. They are supported in British
Columbia and elsewhere across this country and they are welcome."

He urged federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to put pressure on
his Senate colleagues.

Nicholson made a similar plea in June in Vancouver when he visited a
mock marijuana growing operation with the Vancouver Police and fire department.

He reiterated Friday that many Canadians are frustrated with the way
criminals are treated by the courts.

"It undermines people's confidence in the justice system. I have no
doubt," he said.

"This hurts the administration of justice in this country."

But Liberal Senator Larry Campbell said Nicholson should let the
Senate do its job and debate each bill thoroughly. Witnesses have
been testifying about the two-for-one credit bill in recent days.

"Who is saying we aren't passing it? We are studying it," Campbell said.

"Mr. Nicholson thinks that he lives in the dictatorship of Mr.
Harper. We are simply doing our jobs."

He said the two-for-one bill was not received by the Senate until
after everyone went home for the summer.

"We never started looking at it until we got back two weeks ago. This
idea that we should rubber stamp it for a government that only has
support of about a third of the population is ludicrous."